Part II
This the 2nd part of a three part blog about the single preaching lesson that I know that I have learned. Preaching is more an art than a science. This week, I want to give advice to pastors who want to become more of a preaching "artist." To be completely honest,I am not naturally artistic nor creative. This list of ideas have been helpful to me over the years to develop my creative side.
Not to be laborous, but,I fully intended to have a two week blog on this topic, but this week's ran long.. so MORE NEXT WEEK
The next point has had much impact on me.
4- Read Fiction
Pastors have to read. We read books, blogs, newsletters, social media posts, commentaries and of course the Bible. Obviously, Biblical knowledge is paramount for a pastor, but most preachers become an expert in Christian 'trade journals." almost as much as the Scriptures. We read more than almost any profession, but our base of knoweldge tends to be too small. We read literature about some interesting church topics:
How to Improve the Church in 100 Days or Less
Why Your Church isn't Reaching Hipster, Postmodern, Urban, Relevant Millenials.
The One Secret to Planting a Perfect Church
What ( ) really want!! (fill in the blank)
To be sure, the above titles are clothed in hyperbole, but they are pointers to a stream of writing that evangelical pastors swim in. We love leadership books, "how to" church manuals, and research work that offers us a future look into the demographic make up of America in 50 years. These can be quite helpful but if that's all we take in, it leaves the pastor a little empty of thought about the real work of minstry which is speaking the Gospel into the human condition.
Great literature is as great as it's observations are. Literature's observations offers a creative bridge from the world you are into someone else's. Too often, pastors see fiction as unnecessary because it isn't the "real world", but good fiction and it's masterfully told stories help pastors experience circumstances they never would any other way.
Consider, in our research into demographics we may want to learn how to reach the poor with the Gospel. We find out where they live, how much money they have, how old they are- all helpful. Equally helpful, would be to have read Charles Dicken's Bleak House or Great Expectations, or Upton Sinclair's, The Jungle which opens the door for us to seethe heart of poverty therefore hopefully gaining some sympathy for the poor, the orphan and the destitute.
Churches have rightly rekindled the discussion on racism and how the Gospel informs us on the topic. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee helps the reader experience a little about the evils of prejudice. To be clear, reading fictional stories does not make us an expert on a topic but it does enlighten us on certain realities.
FIction also broadens our imagination (Lord of the Rings?), our vocabulary (Shakespeare?) and gives us interesting illustrations in our preaching that will be far more timeless than newspaper headlines. Good fiction makes us think more broadly, more deeply and overall just makes us think more.
Pastors have to see situations from many points of view. Everything from the programming of a church to a counseling session involves making decisions while taking multiple points of view into consideration. Thoughtfullness and empathy are mandatory co-laborers with a pastor. Ultimately, only the Holy Spirit through God's Word can bring something as beautiful as empathy, however, well told stories with captivating characters and quality writing pricks our heart to see things a little differently.
Truth that is found in the pages of the Bible and taught in the pulpit is our primary source for life and ministry, but in our reading it can be helpful to broaden our horizons and dip into some classic stories to teach us about timeless truths that we will minister into everyday.
Here is a list you may find helpful:
Top six (plus one) fiction works that have helped me pastor:
1- Elmer Gantry- written by Sinclair Lewis- A novel about a circuit preacher that achieves success for the wrong reasons. He grows prideful and brings others down with him. More known for being a movie, the novel stings . Lewis can be harsh and overly satirical at times, but a pastor can see the impact a hypocritical life can have.
2-Scarlet Letter- Nathaniel Hawthorne. a novel about the dangers of hypocricy and legalism among a community. Set in Puritan Boston, Hester Prynne's situaton is too familiar for most non Christians. You will get angry and as a pastor it reminds you the importance of grace.
3-The Power and the Glory- Graham Greene-Set in Mexico in the early 1900's, a fallen priest minsters to people at a time when churches were illegal. A powerful story of grace, redemption and justice.
4- Animal Farm- George Orwell. One of my favorites. Easily the shortest book on the list. Orwell is making an anti-communism political statement (among other things), but the reminder that humans need spiritual redemption hangs over the pages- all told by talking animals.
5- "A Good Man is Hard to Find"- Flannery O Conner. A Southern "gothic" short story that is frightening. Probably not suitable for kids. it's not profane but intense. The story of how true religious faith tends to get exposed in dire circumstances. Considered by some to be one of the greatest southern short stories ever written
6-"Wash" and "Dry September"- William Faulkner- Two chilling short stories from the Mississppi legend. Both are intense but nothing profane. I put them together for convenience. "Wash" is the story of complex family relationships in post Civil War Mississippi. Faulkner can be time consuming to read, but the theme of redemption and the dangers of arrogance are worth the time. "Dry September" is a gut wrenching story of racism and injustice. I've never been so angry reading a story. Eye Opening!
Thank you for reading. Part II next week.
In Christ,
Richard
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